Fungus Gnats

Fungus gnats are small, dainty flies that commonly develop in the growing medium of houseplants.  

Order: Diptera
Family: Sciaridae

Description

  • Fungus gnats are small, mosquito-like insects often found in greenhouses, homes, and offices. 
  • Adults 3 mm long, delicate, black flies with long legs and antennae, with a distinct “Y-shaped” pattern on the forewings.  
  • The larvae are maggots and are nearly translucent, with a black head capsule and live in the soil of houseplants and plants grown in the greenhouse. 
  • They can be pests in greenhouses, but are most commonly a nuisance when infesting houseplants 
Fungus gnat larval feeding damage

Penn State Department of Plant Pathology & Environmental Microbiology Archives, Penn State University, Bugwood.org
Fungus gnat larval feeding damage on poinsettia.

Adult fungus gnat.

Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Adult fungus gnat. 

Fungus gnat larvae.

Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org.
Fungus gnat larvae. 

Quick Facts

  • Fungus gnats are small, delicate bodied flies that commonly develop in the growing medium of houseplants and in greenhouses. 
  • Larvae of fungus gnats feed on algae, fungi, and plant roots in growing medium. Adults do not bite or feed. 
  • Fungus gnats can be controlled by allowing the growing medium to dry between watering. 
  • Some insecticides and biological control agents can be used to control fungus gnat larvae in growing media. 

 

Life History and Habits

Fungus gnat larvae usually are in the top 5-8 cm of the growing medium, depending on moisture level. They primarily feed on fungi, algae, and decaying plant matter. However, the larvae can feed on plant roots and leaves resting on the growing medium surface. In homes, adult fungus gnats are usually seen in the vicinity of an infested houseplant. However, adult flies may disperse short distances and often accumulate around window frames. During their seven to 10-day life span, females may lay up to 200 eggs into the cracks and crevices of growing media. Moist-growing media containing high amounts of peat moss are particularly attractive to adult females. 

 

 

Nuisance

Adult fungus gnats do not bite, but they are a nuisance when their numbers are high and they can be a pest in greenhousesAdult fungus gnats tend to be most noticeable during late fall and winter. Decreased day length and cooler temperatures slow plant growth and water usage. If watering practices are not altered, particularly during fall and winter, the growing medium will remain moist, which improves conditions for fungus gnat development. Furthermore, as the growing medium ages or degrades it tends to retain more moisture, which will attract fungus gnat adults.  

 

 

Management

  • An effective means of detecting fungus gnat larvae is to insert ¼ inch slices of potato into the growing medium. Larvae will migrate to the potato and start feeding within a few days, at which point the potato can be removed and checked for larvae presence.  
  • The most important strategy to minimize fungus gnat problems associated with houseplants is to allow the growing medium to dry between watering, especially the top 1 to 2 inches. 
  • It is also recommended to re-pot plants, particularly when the growing medium is retaining too much moisture 
  • Be sure to remove any containers with an abundance of decaying plant matter such as decayed bulbs and roots, which are a food source for fungus gnat larvae. 
  • In greenhouse systems, fungus gnat entry can be prevented by storing potting soil indoors or sanitizing via steam or autoclave before potting plants sensitive to fungus gnats. Populations in the greenhouse can be suppressed by reduction of breeding areas. For example, removing decaying plant matter, soil and standing water from underneath benches.  
  • Yellow sticky cards can be used to trap adult fungus gnats and should be placed under the plant canopy or on the edge of containers. 
  • When fungus gnat populations are excessive, pesticides can be applied to the growing medium. Usually, multiple applications are required.  
  • Fungus gnat larvae may be killed by the microbial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensiss (Bt) when applied as a drench to the growing media. Bt is not generally available through retail outlets, but it is used in commercial greenhouse and large interior environments 
  • A biological control option for fungus gnat larvae is applications of insect parasitic nematodes applied as a drench to the growing medium. The nematode species Steinernema feltiae is particularly effective against fungus gnat larvae 

CSU Extension Fact Sheet

Download or view the CSU Extension’s PDF fact sheet for your reference.